Pathan scripts downfall of Zimbabwe
Harare, September 20Indian left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan picked up his
best Test figures as Zimbabwe were bowled out for a paltry 161 in the
second and final Test here today. Pathan returned figures of 7 for 59
and bowled unchanged after lunch to nail the hosts, who resumed the
second session at 75 for 5 on the opening day of the match at the Harare
Sports Club ground

Irfan Pathan appeals for the dismissal of Zimbabwe’s Blessing Mahwire on the first day of the second Test in
Harare on Tuesday. — Reuters photo

Sachin to inform of his availability todayMumbai, September 20Sachin Tendulkar today said he
would convey by tomorrow his decision to the International Cricket
Council (ICC) on whether he would be a part of the World XI for the
Super Series against Australia.

Kaif supporters accuse Ganguly of bias
Allahabad, September 20
A
group of supporters of middle-order batsman Mohammed Kaif today burnt
the effigy of Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, whom they blamed for
keeping the Allahabad player out of the Test squad.

Backroom politics ahead of BCCI AGM
Kolkata, September 20
Intense backroom politics, court manoeuvres and unending speculation over possible electoral contests have given a dramatic twist to the two-day BCCI annual general meeting
beginning on September 22.

Independent authority sought for conducting BCCI poll
Chennai, September 20
Fearing that elections to the Cricket Board would not be conducted in a free and fair manner, a city cricket club filed a suit in the Madras High Court today seeking appointment of an independent authority to oversee the elections.

India, Sweden warm up
for Davis Cup tie
New Delhi, September 20
The Indian Davis Cup players had lengthy workouts at the well-manicured grass courts of the National Sports Club of India
here today. The R.K. Khanna Stadium grass turf at the centre court is yet to
fully recover from the ravages of the rain which hit the capital last week, and
the teams hope to get a feel of the turf only on Thursday.

Leander Paes (right) and Mahesh Bhupathi during a practice session in New Delhi on Tuesday. India will take on Sweden in their Davis Cup World Group playoff from Friday. — AFP
photo

Sania breezes into second round
Kolkata, September 20
Sania Mirza sailed into the second round of the WTA Sunfeast Open, breezing past Japanese qualifier Junri Namigata 6-2, 6-2, here today.Sania Mirza an icon
for schoolchildren.
In video (28k, 56k)

Indian Air Force defeat CRPF
Faridkot, September 20
On the second day of the All-India Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, Indian Air Force, Delhi, today defeated Central Railway, Bombay, by a
solitary goal.

Heena triumphs
Patiala, September 20
Heena Kapoor gave a polished performance to enable Jalandhar down Mansa 2-0 in badminton at the Punjab State Games For Women which commenced at the multi-purpose gymnasium hall of Nehru Memorial College at Mansa today.

Chandigarh lads win 19-0 in Subroto Cup
New Delhi, September 20
In one of the biggest victory margins in the tournament’s history, Government Model School, Chandigarh, routed St Mary’s School, Rajkot 19-0 on the seventh day of the Subroto Cup football Tournament at the Ambedbar Stadium here today.

Mumbai, September 20
Sachin Tendulkar today said he would convey by tomorrow his decision to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on whether he would be a part of the World XI for the Super Series against Australia. Tendulkar was speaking to reporters here at the Rose Carnival organised by the Cancer Patients Aid Association.

He had been given time till September 21 to inform to the ICC if he would be fit enough to play in the Super Series to be held in Australia in the second week of October.

The master batsman also said his elbow injury was progressing well and he was following the rehabilitation programme chalked out by the doctors for him.

Speaking about the current controversy surrounding the Indian captain
Sourav Ganguly and coach Greg Chapell. Tendulkar said he did not know what exactly happened apart from what he read in the newspapers. He, however, said every player must ensure that whatever happens in the dressing room should remain there and not even a word should come out.
— UNI

Allahabad, September 20
A
group of supporters of middle-order batsman Mohammed Kaif today burnt
the effigy of Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, whom they blamed for
keeping the Allahabad player out of the Test squad.

Kaif, who impressed
in the tri-series preceding the ongoing Test series against Zimbabwe,
was left out of the first Test and also ignored for the second Test,
which began in Harare today.

The slogan-shouting fans gathered before
the Civil Lines residence of the cricketer here and accused Ganguly of
being biased against Kaif. They later burnt an effigy of Ganguly. —
PTI

Kolkata, September 20
Intense backroom politics, court manoeuvres and unending speculation over possible electoral contests have given a dramatic twist to the two-day BCCI annual general meeting (AGM) beginning on September 22.

The centre of activity is fast shifting to a five-star hotel — which has been the venue for elections since last three AGMs — in South Kolkata with the arrival of the principal players owing allegiance to the two rival factions.

BCCI President Ranbir Singh Mahendra is already in town and the ruling group, led by former Board chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, has been engaged in meetings among themselves to finalise the strategy for the elections.

Political heavyweight Sharad Pawar, who
unsuccessfully contested against Mahendra last year, is at the centre of all discussions with the opposition lobby repeatedly claiming that he would again throw his hat in the ring.

“As far as my knowledge goes, Pawar will be contesting,” Rajsingh Dungarpur, a leading light in the opposition camp, said from Mumbai.

So far the Maratha strongman has kept both his supporters and
detractors guessing by being non-committal on the issue.

But as per the BCCI constitution, a representative could announce his candidature even on the floor of the AGM.

A BCCI functionary belonging to the ruling faction, however, said, “If they (Pawar and his group) want a contest, we have nothing to say. They will again bite the dust.”

Dungarpur, however, exuded confidence that Pawar would win by a handsome margin.

A further dimension has been added to the meeting following the recent rift and the much-publicised patch up between national team coach Greg Chappel and skipper Sourav Ganguly in Zimbabwe and the dissidents could raise the matter at the AGM.

Meanwhile, an influential BCCI official belonging to the ruling group said the slew of court cases which have been slapped against the
Board in the last few days were meant to “disturb the AGM”.

The opposition lobby, spearheaded by former BCCI chief I.S. Bindra and Dungarpur, has held some informal discussions in Mumbai and the activity in the camp would pick up once the big names land in the city.

The last edition of the AGM was witness to acrimonious scenes with legal battles and even murder threats vitiating the atmosphere before the meeting ended inconclusive.

The Pawar versus Mahendra duel for the top BCCI post had ended in a tie, before Dalmiya gave his casting vote to ensure his nominee’s victory.

With the present secretary S.K. Nair completing his three-year term, interest also surrounds the possible choice of candidate from the ruling group for the coveted post.

The names of BCCI joint secretary Goutam Dasgupta and National Cricket Academy Director and former Test cricketer Brijesh Patel are being heard in this respect.
— PTI

Chennai, September 20
Fearing that elections to the Cricket Board would not be conducted in a free and fair manner, a city cricket club filed a suit in the Madras High Court today seeking appointment of an independent authority to oversee the elections.

The elections are slated to be held during the BCCI’s annual general meeting
(AGM) in Kolkata on September 22-23.

“It is necessary that an independent authority be appointed to act as chairman of the BCCI in the said AGM so as to ensure that the
conduct of the election is totally fair and transparent,” the plaintiff, Netaji Cricket Club, a member of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, contended.

Submitting that elections to the managing committee of the BCCI are scheduled to be held on September 22, the club apprehended that Board President Ranbir Singh Mahendra, who is again contesting for the post, would allegedly misuse his powers as the chairman of the AGM to subserve his ulterior motives and that of former BCCI and ICC President Jagmohan
Dalmia.

Contending that it was necessary to safeguard the honour of the country and to ensure that a body which represented the country
did not bring disrepute to it due to malafide actions of its officials, the planitiff said an independent
authority should be appointed, having absolute powers to scrutinise and approve the list of representatives for member associations, eligible to vote in the
AGM. — PTI

Colombo, September 20
Tillakaratne Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera smashed solid centuries durng a record partnership to pull Sri Lanka out of trouble in the second and final Test against Bangladesh here today.

Dilshan, who scored a career-best 168, and Samaraweera (138) put on 280 for the fifth wicket as Sri Lanka recovered from 48-4 to post a healthy 449-7 at stumps on the opening day.

Their partnership was Sri Lanka’s best for the fifth wicket in Test cricket, surpassing the previous highest of 234 between Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya against Bangladesh at Colombo in 2002.

Dilshan, declared fit just before the match after being struck on the elbow during a practice session, hit one six and 19 fours in his fourth Test hundred, his first since March 2004. His previous best was an unbeaten 163 against Zimbabwe at Harare in 1999.

Samaraweera hit 20 fours in his fifth Test century before being caught at short mid-wicket off Syed Russel, bowling with the second new ball.

Chaminda Vaas also made merry, scoring a brisk 61 not out off just 57 balls with one six and 10 fours.

Kolkata, September 20
Sunitha Rao of the USA won a humdinger against compatriot Neha Uberoi in three sets 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 even as India’s Rushmi Chakravarthy surrendered meekly to a much superior Maria Elena Camerin in straight sets 2-6, 0-6 in first-round matches of the Sunfeast Open here today.

Both Americans of Indian origin played their hearts out in a match lasting two-and-a-half hours. Sunitha broke Neha in the first, ninth and 11th games and was broken in the fourth and 10th games in the first set, that went on for 55 minutes.

While Sunitha spiced up the set with some smashing forehand crosscourts and down-the-line winners, Neha replied by moving to the net and firing in two aces. But Neha’s efforts were not enough as Sunitha bagged the set 7-5.

In the second set, Neha moved into top gear, breaking Sunitha in the fourth game with a fine down the line winner, but Sunitha broke back in the next game.

When it seemed that the set would go into-tie-breaker, with Neha leading 5-4 and Sunitha serving, Neha broke her, aided by an inexplicable drop volley at the net, which Sunitha shot wide to hand over the set to her opponent 4-6.

Having won the second set, Neha looked the aggressor for the first part of the decider. But it was Sunitha who kept her nerves as unforced errors rocketed for both players.

Sunitha broke Neha in the crucial ninth game, after exchanging breaks in the two opening games, and served out the match with a forehand down-the-line winner to pocket the set 6-4 and the match.

In another match, Rushmi found the going tough against fourth seed Camerin, who had lost to Sania Mirza in the second round of the US Open.

The 6-2, 6-0 scoreline indicated the domination Camerin had in the match, but the Indian did not give up hope after holding her serve for the second and the last time in the match, trailing 2-4 in the first set.

A pep-up gesture from her mother in the stands was returned with a stoic shake of the head. Thereafter Camerin won eight games on the trot to seal the issue.
— UNI

New Delhi, September 20
The Indian Davis Cup players had lengthy workouts at the well-manicured grass courts of the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) here today. The R.K. Khanna Stadium grass turf at the centre court is yet to fully recover from the ravages of the rain which hit the capital last week, and the teams hope to get a feel of the turf only on Thursday.

But with the NSCI throwing open its tennis courts to the Davis Cup team, the Indian and Swedish teams had no problem having full sessions, as there are four courts at the teams’ disposal.

Leander Paes’ quest to find the perfect combination for the crucial tie continued as the Indian team went through punishing practice sessions today. With Mahesh Bhupathi joining the squad, the Indians were in full strength, and tested their skill and endurance spread over two sessions.

The Swedes, unable to cope with the heat and humidity, practised in the morning and late evening. The heat and humidity is putting some kind of pressure on the visitors, which is sweet music to the ears of Leander. He has been striving hard to make up his mind about the final composition of the Indian squad.

Prakash Amritraj, Rohan Bopanna and Harsh Mankad are on “trial” as the captain would settle for nothing, but the best. Harsh, who joined the squad on Sunday evening, after being assured of a “fair deal” by Leander, is toiling hard to impress the skipper. And so does Rohan Bopanna, and to some extent Prakash Amritraj, though Prakash’s slot is more or less certain.

Bhupathi arrived here from Kolkata. He practised quietly, though he and Leander are sure to play in the doubles. But Leander has given no inkling about his playing in the singles. He had talked of an injury he had suffered in the French Open, and the final decision would eventually boil down to his fitness, how much load his limbs would be able to take in the three-day contest.

His focus during the past three days has been on hard grind, allowing no distraction to the players. The media was kept at a respectable distance at the NSCI ground today, while the team practised.

The NSCI courts were in perfect shape — trim, firm, with an even bounce. And that is a big relief for the Indian and Swedish players after practising on the hard deco-turf courts. Surprisingly, no doctor has been attached with the Indian team. Dr Vece Paes, who has been named as the team doctor, is yet to join the team while the All India Tennis Association has not drafted in anybody to fill in for him at the practice sessions. The Swedes got a taste of the heat and humidity when Andreas Vinciguerra suffered from dehydration last evening.

Meanwhile, the Swedes were bolstered with the arrival of their No. 1 player Thomas Johansson. Though Sweden have not named their final squad, veteran Jonas Bjorkman is expected to bear the burden of the clash —
a la Leander.

Italy’s Maria Elena Camerin prepares to play a return shot during her first-round match against against India’s Rushmi Chakravarthy at the WTA Sunfeast Open in Kolkata on Tuesday. Camerin won 6-2, 6-0. — AFP
photo

Setting the centre court ablaze with power-packed forehand crosscourt winners, the third-seeded Hyderabadi girl sealed the issue in 54 minutes. The Japanese, way behind Sania in the rankings, seemed all at sea against the Indian’s aggression and was broken in the fifth and seventh games of the first
set, which lasted 28 minutes.

World number 34 Sania continued her onslaught in the second set and literally toyed with her rival, making her run all over the court. Towards the end, Namigata seemed totally drained and was only waiting for her misery to end.

Sania would meet Melinda Czink of Hungary for a place in the quarterfinals. Czink humbled Ma Amila Salerni of Argentina 6-4, 7-5.

Meanwhile, Sunitha Rao of the USA won a humdinger against compatriot Neha Uberoi in three sets 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 even as India’s Rushmi Chakravarthy surrendered meekly to a much superior Maria Elena Camerin in straight sets 2-6, 0-6 in first-round matches.

Sunitha broke Neha in the first, ninth and 11th games and was broken in the fourth and 10th games in the first set, that went on for 55 minutes. While Sunitha spiced up the set with some smashing forehand crosscourts and down-the-line winners, Neha replied by moving to the net and firing in two aces. But Neha’s efforts were not enough as Sunitha bagged the set 7-5.

In the second set, Neha moved into top gear, breaking Sunitha in the fourth game with a fine down the line winner, but Sunitha broke back in the next game.

When it seemed that the set would go into-tie-breaker, with Neha leading 5-4 and Sunitha serving, Neha broke her, aided by an inexplicable drop volley at the net, which Sunitha shot wide to hand over the set to her opponent 4-6.

Sunitha broke Neha in the crucial ninth game of the third set, after exchanging breaks in the two opening games, and served out the match with a forehand down-the-line winner to pocket the set 6-4 and the match.
— PTI, UNI

For Western Command, S. Tigga converted two penalty corners. K.H.R. Singh of the Eastern Command converted a penalty corner. Western Command struck again when Paramjit Singh converted another penalty corner. In the dying minutes of the game K.H.R. Singh converted another penalty corner for Eastern Command.

Patiala, September 20
Heena Kapoor gave a polished performance to enable Jalandhar down Mansa 2-0 in badminton at the Punjab State Games For Women which commenced at the multi-purpose gymnasium hall of Nehru Memorial College at Mansa today.

In the first match Heena beat Amandeep Kaur 11-1, 11-0.

Then she combined with Daljit Kaur to defeat Manjeet Kaur and Amandeep 15-0, 15-0.

New Delhi, September 20
In one of the biggest victory margins in the tournament’s history, Government Model School, Chandigarh, routed St Mary’s School, Rajkot 19-0 on the seventh day of the Subroto Cup football Tournament at the Ambedbar Stadium here today.

Rakesh and Jaspal took full advantage of the porous defence of their opponents and helped themselves to five goals each while Rabin scored another three. Rinku and Manoj also added two goals to their team’s tally.

In the 100m breaststroke for women, Mankiran Kaur of Sangrur, with a timings of 1.25.45 secs, put to shade the previous record of 1.30.00 secs by Bindya Sareen in 1993.

The second record was in the 50m backstroke as Hoshiarpur’s Gurbinder Kaur clocked 0.36.37 secs to establish a new record. The earlier record of 0.38.37 secs was set by Abhipsha Thakur of Ludhiana in 1997. The third record was in the 50m butterfly in the men’s section. Mohit Sharma of Hoshiarpur took 0.28.47 secs to create a new meet record. The last record of 0.29.03 secs stood in the name of Jaspreet Singh of Sangrur since 1999.

Prince
racquets
HYDERABAD: Planet Sports on Tuesday formally announced the
association between tennis player Prakash Amritraj and Prince, a
tennis brand. Prakash would now play his serve-and-volley game using
Prince racquets. — TNS

Shimla
volleyball
SHIMLA: The two-day Shimla District Volleyball Championship
for Men and Women (Senior) will be held at Indira Gandhi State Sports
Complex here from Saturday. The men’s and women’s teams for the
forthcoming state volleyball championship, being held at Kulu from
October 3 to 5, will be selected on the basis of this meet. — TS

Cricket
matches
DHARAMSALA: Two one-day international matches would be
played between the under-19 Australian and Indian cricket teams at
Dharamsala on September 24 and 25. Addressing a press conference here
on Tuesday, Mr Gautam Thakur and Sanjay Sharma, HPCA spokesmen, said
the Australian team would be arriving in Dharamsala on September 22. —
TNS

Punjab
victorious
AMRITSAR: Punjab trounced Hyderabad 9-1 in the fourth
All-India Junior Maharaja Ranjit Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at
Guru Nanak Dev University hockey ground here on Tuesday. Chennai
overpowered Bhopal 2-1 in another match. The match between Lucknow and
Delhi ended in a 2-2 draw. The last match of the day between Mumbai
and Manipur also ended in a 2-2 draw. — OSR

Cricket
trials
NEW DELHI: Trials to select the under-22 team will be held
at the Kalindi College ground on Wednesday at 3 pm, according to Delhi
and District Cricket Association sports committee convenor Vinod
Tihara. — OSR